Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Greening Sacramento: Shriver Announces Plans to Get Planting
Photo by Grumpy Chris via Flickr
The gardening trend is, without a doubt (and pardon the pun) growing.Add Maria Shriver to the list of politicians getting their hands dirty and cultivating a truly green movement. Right on the heels of the first family, California's first lady "announced Monday that a garden will be planted in May in a flower bed on the east end of Capitol Park in Sacramento," according to LA Now.
With the aim of raising awareness about the "role of food, where it comes from, nutritional value, how it is grown and harvested and ultimately how it reaches the tables of those who need it most," Shriver plans to create a full demonstration garden, with the valued input from "state Food and Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura, the California School Garden Network and the chef Alice Waters, who has been a vocal advocate for school and public edible gardens." The crops, which haven't been selected for planting yet, are most likely destined to area food banks.
In her five years as honorary chairwoman of the School Garden Network the "number [of] gardens in the program has doubled, reaching 6,000 last year." Our own LAUSD has a thriving School Garden program, as do many other smaller districts and private schools in the area. Gardening has become so popular as a means to create local produce, repurpose unused city spaces, and save money on groceries that many community gardens have lengthy waiting lists for plots.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
